Collar-button



(No Model.)

J. J. FITZGERALD. COLLAR BUTTON NB. 547,376. Patented Oct. 1, 1895.

Fig.1.

WrrNzsszs- NTTE JOHN J. FITZGERALD, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

COLLAR-BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ?atent No. 547,376, dated October1, 1895. Application filed January 15, 1895 Serial No. 534,950. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN J. FITZGERALD, of Everett, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Collar-Buttons, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements inbuttons for collars or cuffs, the object being to provide a button whichcan be easily slipped into place and as readily detached.

The invention consists in a button having a head pivoted to the end of ashank, which has a recess for the reception of one end of the said head,so that when the head is bent for insertion into the collar the shankand head lie in the same horizontal planes, the overlapping end or sideof the head fitting in the said recess, all as I will now proceed todescribe in detail, and point out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the button, actual size, theheads being bent into parallelism with the shank. Fig. 2 is a side Viewof the same. Fig. 3 is a side View of the button when inserted in place,the collar and shirt-band being shown in section. Fig. a is alongitudinal section of the button enlarged to about twice the actualsize. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the shank detached.

The shank of the button is indicated by a, it being rectangular in planView and of a width somewhat greater than its length. The shape of theshank, however, is immaterial, as it may be constructed in any shape, ofany material, or of any dimensions that may be desired. It is formedwith a triangular recess a at each end for the reception of one end ofeach head. It is also provided at each end with a lug b, bent upwardsomewhat and havinglaterally-extending projections 19 b, which form thepivot and fastening for the head. The heads may be constructed of anydesired material, as gold, or brass washed with gold, or they may bemade of bone, pearl, or some other similar substance. Those shown in thedrawings are merely for the purposes of illustration, and areconstructed in one of the wellknown ways. The heads are diamond-shapedwith one end elongated, and are indicated by c and d, respectively. Asthey are similar, I shall describe only one of them. It is hollow,

. ironed.

The bottom face-plate, which is preferably flat, has a straight slotthrough which the lug b projects, the projections or pins 1) b lying oneither side of the slot in the open space between the face-plates c 0Thus it will be seen that the head 0 can be swung around the pins orprojections b b as a pivot, there being a spring at e to hold it ineither of two positionsthat is, either in a position at right angles tothe shank, or in parallel or the same horizontal planes. It will befurther observed from the drawings that the inner end of each head liessnugly in the recess a. of the shank, and that the face-plate 0 thereofis flush with the top face of the shank a, so that when the head is inthe position shown in Fig. 4 it lies in the horizontal planes of theshank. The reason for such an arrangement of parts-namely, the recessingof the shank for the reception of the head-is to enable a person toeasily insert the button in the buttonhole, which is usually tightlyclosed after the garment has been starched and The outer end of the headacts as a wedge to separate the edges of the fabric, (the head being inthe position in Fig. 1,) so that the shank slips easily into place,after which the head is bent to occupy a positionat right angles to theshank.

A button constructed in accordance with my invention can be easilyinserted from with out the shirt-band inward, and is easily removablewhen once in place by slipping it either outward or inward. A great manyof them can be packed in asmall space, for when the heads are in theposition in Fig. 1 the buttons can lie side by side and each oneoccupics but very little room, and a spare one can be readily carried inthe vest-pocket, as it lies flat in the bottom thereof and does notcause any bulging of the pocket.

It will be understood that I do not limit myself to a button withdiamond-shaped heads, as round heads may be used as well; nor do I limitmyself to the particular form of lies tening for securing the head tothe shank, as

any other fastening may be employed.

'While I have described the button as best adapted for use on collars,yet it will be seen that it can be used as a cuff-button, in which casethe face-plates c of the heads may be made as ornate as desired.

I have described the button as being provided with two movable heads,and while I prefer to so construct it, yet at the same time I do notlimit myself to such a construction, as one of the heads may be rigidlyconnected to the shank at right angles thereto, the other head beingpivoted, as above set forth.

For some purposes I find that a button with one rigid head is preferableto a construction in which the heads are both movable.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way ofconstructing and using the same, though Without attempting to set forthall of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use,it is declared that what is claimed is A button comprising in itsconstruction a see/337s shank provided in one of its faces with recessesextending inward from its ends, and a head pivoted to each end of thesaid shank, the construction and arrangement being such that the headsmay be turned to extend at right angles to the shank orin the samelongitudinal plane therewith, and the form or shape of the ends or sidesof the heads overlapping the shank when the heads are in the latterposition being such as to adapt them to fit in the said recesses in theshank.

I11 testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 8th day of January, A.D. 1895.

JOHN J. FITZGERALD. Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. CROSSLEY, O. O. .STEOHER.

